Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-16

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MARIE FRANCOIS SADI-CARNOT.
olas Marguerite Carnot, statesman,
patriot and tactcian of the first revolu
ton and first republic He was born
May 49, 1903, at Nolay, in Burgundy-a
department in which the blood of the
original Tcutonic Burgundians still pre-
walls, and where, consequently, there is
rather more political steadiness than
among the Franks, the Gauls or the vola-
tile Provencals. The first Carnot was
notably precocious. When only IS he
completed military education, and was
made second lieutenant of engineers; at
90 he was first lieutenant and at 30 cap
tain, and there he fingered for years.
The ruling classes in France had re-
duced the common people to such state
of misery that exhausted nature could
bear no more, and riots and instructions
began; the government responded with
brutal tyranny, arresting and imprisoning
without process of law. Among the vic
tins was CarnOt, who was confined in the
Bastile for no greater offense than writing
an essay which criticised the organization
of the army He also published a scien-
tiic work on the waste of power i'll ma
chimes, which was highly praised by scien-
tifc men. In 1887 the financial condition
of the country became so bad that King
Louis XVI convened the assembly of the
notabloS, which was followed soon by the
meeting Of the states general, Il par
lament somewhat on the plan of the
middle ages, which had not been con-
vened for 115 years; and by the ac-
ton Of this body the revolution fairly
began in 1883. The next general body
| ln
| ter the destruction of the old regime
came the legislative assembly, of which
! Capt Carnot was member representing
| Pas de Calais As a member of the com
mttec on military affairs he recognized
| the militia as we should call it,
and, for want Of muskets, he pro-
cured an act that the Paris Sec
tons should be armed with pixies.
| They used these pixies i'll the assault on
the royal residence the Tuileries, Aug.
2, 1892, for matters We're moving too fast
for conservative rsformers, and soon the
liberal monarch and moderate republic
were alike overthrown, and the national
convention was hurried forward to the de-
structiOn of the royal family and the
slaughter of the rOyalists. Carnot voted
for the execution of the king but eX-
pressed his deep sorrow for its necessity.
In August 1888, he was put at the head
of the military administration in the com
mittee of public safety and soon thereafter
the whole face of affairs was changed.
SO successful was he as an organizer
that he soon had fourteen armies, large
and small equipped; the reactionists were
completely suhdued and foreign armie,
driven from French soil. IN 1906 he
planned aud provided mato,.al for the
caL,uqi u III Italy, which WIS SO wonder
full cared out 10y Bon0pGrtc; Int Wher
the latter seized the rcins Of power Car
not opposed him and went into exile
With only short intervals he remained
abroad til 1914, then wrote to l}Ouaparte
GAS long as you were prosperous | state
away-uoW that misfortune has come,
place myself at your disposal. Th'
emperor promoted him through all thu
grades from major TO general, and IN
fought hravely till the last hope was gone
The returned BOurbons drove him int
; exile and he died at Madgeburg, Aug :
1928.
His son, Lazare Hippolite Carnot, wa
born April &, 1901, lie, too, was re
publican, but not so conservative as hi
father, maintaining at different time
socialism and similar theories. 70 hin
we are indebted for the cearest exposition
OF inc doctrines OF 81 SllDbll' llt ldNlc
3, of modern socialism. After trying
variety of avocations he became more con
servative in middle life, and supported tn
government of Louis Philippe with con
siderable ability. After that king wa
driven away by the revolution OF 1913, Can
, not was made minister of public instrut
: ton and effected valuable reforms. lie II
, sisted Louis Napoleon and went into exile
but some years later decided that tn
empire was a well established government
4 returned and once more took office, Twin
to see the empire again overthrown AN
Q the third grand republic set up.
: Marie Francois Sadi-Carnot owes hi
= compound name to the comical fact this
his somewhat visionary father was deep
;, Oriental and mystical studies at the tim
u of his birth, Aug. II, 1887, About thi
J. time began the rage for inquiry into I'll
t religion and philosophy of the Arabs an
5 Hindoos, which has lately become sol
u of "fad." The father was nm "occultist
o of that day-an observation-disclosures II
: "Sadi," which the son has hyphcnate
J. with the honored family name. The sol
however, has proved q more practic'
man; he is rich and successful, but bilioI
and melancholy. A graduate of the note
l. polytechnique, he rose rapidly throue
u all the ranks Of government engineering
and later made a success as minister
II public works and minister of finance. II
- wife, brilliant and witty woman, is
Il ,to,, ga l,a lnf nnnnnf Whita